Powell is a war criminal. He has no role in society. He needs to turn himself in to the World Criminal Court.

Morris Packer

Briliant endorsement by Powell. And yes, this is “the most important, most profound, more powerfully argued 7 minutes of this campaign”.

http://www.thomasr.org Tom Reynolds

@Tom Poe. I realise the USA has suspended lots of rights and created laws to protest that do nothing more than inconvenience the innocent and create fear among the masses, however I am still pretty sure you can’t just present yourself at court when there are no charges laid against you…?

http://funwithnetworking.com Oliver Picher

I think of Joe Lieberman’s defection from the Democratic party and his endorsement of McCain, and now Powell’s endorsement of Obama, and I wonder if we are seeing a realignment of the current “two-party” system here in the U.S.

This endorsement speaks volumes and I believe it will be a needle mover for two relevant voter segments this election: (1) moderate Republicans who are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the extreme rightward direction of the McCain-Palin campaign and (2) people who are holding back on Obama-Biden primarily because of foreign policy and national security concerns.

Aside from the blemish on his record in relation to the Iraq war, General Powell still garners tremendous respect from the vast majority of Republicans, and every Republican President in the last three decades has sought his advice on National Security and Foreign Policy issues. I hope that General Powell’s endorsement will sway the votes of some members of the two above-mentioned segments away from John McCain and Sarah Palin and towards Senators Obama and Biden.

This election is still too close for my comfort, and the excellent news about General Powell aside, it will be important for those of who support Senator Obama to get to the polls on election day (or sooner if you can!) and vote not only to ensure his victory, but also to demonstrate the greater sense of unity and solidarity our country desperately needs right now.

Colin Powell sums up so well why Americans should vote for Obama. Obama is going to change the world not only America. America will become The Great United States of America the day obama becomes president. Billions will look towards America as a shining light of hope and freedom. Lift your nation up into the stars and show just how Great your nation is. Make America the Greatest Nation on earth and vote for Obama….

Rick

I don’t understand the acrimony against Powell. I assume it has to do with his “selling” of the Iraq war to Congress and the UN. Fair enough, I suppose, but I submit that he was virtually the only moderating voice in the Bush first term. He spoke his peace stridently. His view, though we now see it as correct, did not prevail. He then did his job with the best information he had to work with, unaware of the inaccuracies in the intel. Note that Powell has received little criticism from either side of the political spectrum for his role in all that.

So he got out with little fanfare when Bush was reelected and has laid low ever since, carefully keeping his counsel to himself. Now he’s back with an endorsement and, given the depth of detail in his comments, he means to make a difference. Perhaps, too, he’s looking for some payback from a Republican Party which left him swinging in the wind and, for that matter, has left us all swinging.

Bottom line for me is that any national figure who, as he has, characterizes the neocons as “fucking crazies” has his head screwed on perfectly well.

http://TimGoree.com Tim Goree

This from my blog regarding the very same thing:

He’s “a transformational figure”.

He runs “an inclusive campaign”.

He has the “ability to inspire”.

He has “rhetorical abilities”.

He “has both style and substance”.

He “represents a new generation coming onto the world stage”.

These are the reasons that General Colin Powell gave today on Meet the Press for endorsing Barack Obama for President of the United States.

Other than the word “substance”, I don’t see a lot of substance here, do you? Almost everything he mentions has to do with Obama’s ability to speak and impress in public. It is disappointing to me that somebody that I have respected for a long time for his ability to think and communicate clearly has become so “star struck”.

I’m less interested in how much style and world appeal my president has and more interested in what types of decisions my president will make. I would have hoped that Colin Powell would have felt the same way. You see, being “a transformational figure” is only a good thing if the transformation that the figure is bringing about is a positive one, and whether or not that transformation is positive is totally dependent on the substance of their actions.

Angela Rae

General Colin Powell, I salute you. What a courageous move to step away from the Republican party and endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President. In doing so, you so eloquently and humbly reminds us all what Hope can mean for America: the chance to rebuild a broken government, fix a failing economy, cure our dispicable healthcare system that excludes 46 million Americans (in the richest nation on the planet), set forth strategies that will reverse debilitating environmental degradation, restore hope for all Americans that the Bill of Rights Applies to EVERYONE, and redirect unabashed greed by the super rich into systems that uplift all of us for the betterment of each of us. You are a true hero. You are a blessed human being., God Bless You.
Angela
Seattle Washington

http://blog.germuska.com Joe Germuska

@Tim Goree: You’ve cherry-picked quotes.

Obama “displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge, an approach to looking at problems like this… not just jumping in and changing every day, but showing an intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that would serve us well.”

“Mr. Obama has given us a more inclusive, broader reach into the needs and aspirations of our people. He’s crossing lines: ethnic lines, racial lines, generational lines. He’s thinking about all towns have values, not just small towns have values.”

I think these constitute substance. Furthermore, the sharply drawn criticisms of the McCain campaign are implicitly recognizing Obama, as in the importance of the choice of a VP candidate, or the demonstration of a clear and consistent economic plan.

I am also happy to hear a major public figure point out that it is shameful to let people suggest that whether or not Obama might be muslim is actually any issue.

I can’t see how this is “star-struck.”

Don

Suspicious of Powell’s late endorsement; who takes McCain to task for Palin, yet lets Obama off the hook for the same inexeperience. Regardless of Obama’s posturing, all foreign elements (hostile or friendly) see Obama as an “appeaser” and “pease at all cost.” Whether he is or not, is moot, as long as these foreign elements presume.

http://blog.sfadj.com Rubin

A lot of people in the Republican party probably feel just like Colin Powell. John McCain shouldn’t have negliged their vote.

http://www.socialsecuritybullshit.com Steve Baba

It would have been more profound a month ago when the odds of Obama’s victory were 50% and not 85% due the economic blow up.

At this late stage, it looks like the endorsement is either an opportunistic attempt to be on the winning side to remain in the game OR a calming appeal to middle-of-the-road politics (the opposite of Lessig’s argument).

The rest of the interview, not linked to by Lessig, was not as flattering. The same endorsement was given to Bush and differences over Iraq strategy.

http://www.socialsecuritybullshit.com Steve Baba

On second thought, I don’t think Powell or virtually anyone could have foreseen the timing of the economic crisis, so it might be unfair to Powell to suggest that he might not endorse Obama if odds were still 50-50, or if things shifted the other way and Obama was the underdog. But we will never know.

Howard

Powell’s endorsement of Obama does not verify Obama’s judgement, but rather brings Powell’s judgement into question. Powell says that Obama is ready to lead … WHY? … Regardless of Powell’s last minute endorsement, Obama is still the most liberal senator in congress … who accomplished nothing in his meager 3 years in office, except voting present 160 times, and campaigning for President, as well as associating with anti-American racists and domestic terrorists … giving good speeches … and, taking America down the road to socialism. I used to respect Colin Powell … but, now that’s history!!!

Allison

Common – what else does anyone want here??? I am switching right NOW…..

Look at the text of the endorsement from Powell (whom I admired so much for carrying the conservative values and principles)…. The Sarah Palin crap alienated me (it clearly tells me that you are ready to mortgage your country for votes!!)
That btw, makes the Country First slogan a HOAX….

For a moment we all should think that we should NOT discourage a bright and pragmatic leader (by associating him/her to the Party) – sure, I think that he has leftist ideas but he is very very pragmatic and such leaders think beyond the box…

I might vote for the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE to a candidate from the Democratic Party – thanks to McCain’s campaign (he certainly is NOT the Mccain I knew of)

Joanna

Tim Goree:: I don’t care which quotes you liked and want to reference but I request ALL of us to ask one question to ourselves….

1) What are we doing to the Nation so that the Nation can offer us back what we look for ourselves???

Your Vote determines a lot of your OWN future if not others – so please do NOT do disservice to the nation and yourselves by making a mistake…

The military overtures towards Russia, Iran and whoever PLUS All this hockey / soccer mom shit and the political slogans – they do reflect what one wants to achieve… C’mmon we CANNOT afford another war OR another Idiot to screw with our hard earned money…

What made Gen. Powell change his reasonably conservative stance in swinging toward Obama? He states Obama is ready to lead– lead us down the garden path, maybe! He doesn’t have the experience and has accomplished little in his time in office. Doesn’t Powell realize that his association with Obama will place him with the rest of the liberal loony illuminatis with no common sense–seeing style, but no substance whatsoever.

http://kristo.mp/ Che Kristo

Bravo General Powell…

Leaders in society can tap into either the highest common aspirations or stoop to the lowest darkest thread. We have seen the politics of fear, we have lived with it and endured its pain. Now is the time that we rise above this and empower people to aspire for something greater – something beyond prejudice and greed.

http://schestowitz.com Roy Schestowitz

I am a regular reader of your site. Would it be possible to make Ogg versions of the Flash blobby bit? Thanks.

Paul Thompson

In seven minutes, General Powell not only clearly and concisely explained why he, personally, will be voting for Senator Obama, but, while doing so, he also pointed out how far out of sync the Neo-Conservative movement is from formerly conservative Republicans like Powell.

This should be an example to all moderate Republicans who continually talk about their personal conservatism (lower taxes, less government, etc.), but do so while ignoring the fact that the current GOP has shifted so much farther to the right of the spectrum than what the mainstream Republican Party has historically stood for (as General Powell clearly points to in his statement above).

Ryan N.

Good job, Howie and Angie. The guy in office right now had some experience. Bang up job he did too! Let’s focus on what people actually plan to do in office, and their policies. McCain’s policies of “I can fix it! I know how to fix it!” and “we’ll get Osama, I know how to get him, and I’m going to get him” and “we’re pretty sure Obama’s a terrorist.” Aren’t you both better than to fall for these dramatics masquerading as real campaign?

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=551911492791&ref=nf Abe

Thanks for the post, FYI I copied this video and shared it on Facebook, feel free to click ‘Share’ to post to your own profile, or share with friends…

Let see isn’t this the same Colin Powell that in 2003 went before the UN and the world and veehemntly professed that Sadaam had mobile bio weapons labs and demanded we strike the very same Iraq that Obama opposes? And this is the very same Colin Powell whom empathetically grieved for the Muslim chid Karem Kahn (I wonder if he was related to Dr A. Q. Kahn of India, ie the father of Libia and possibly Iran and Korean Nuk programs) of the photo essay contest, that in 2004 AP article said ” if they (Muslims)are just going to take thier young people and put them in these madrases, these schools that do NOTHING but indoctrinate children in the worst aspectes of this religion they are selling themselvs short” who now gives Islam and seemingly any religion equal validity? What double speak Colin Powell! My question then to the former general is what then is worth fighting for if all religious claims are valid? What us right or wrong, is Hitler wrong, is Saadam Hussain wrong, is Osama Bin Laden wrong, if so why? Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the Tri-Un God who loves His most cherised creation but hates sin (abortion, jealsousy, murder, adultery, and on and on)and hasnt and will not change His character or demands ever unlike Powell and Obama who change their colors, stripes whenever it behoves them to do so. Oh, and just to remind everyone, the CIA intel report wasnt the reason we went to war in Iraq, there were many, Iraqs firing on American planes patrolling and enforcing the no fly zone, non-compliance with UN Resolution 1441, non-compliance with weapon inspectors, acquistion of prohibited armaments and Urainium enrichment equipment like refined Aluminium centrifuge tubes and Sulfur dioxide, harboring terrorist that fled from Afghanastan after US first struck the Taliban like Abu al-Zarqai who not only lived in Iraq (and later was bombed and killed in Iraq) but FOUNDED Al-Quida in Iraq and beheaded American citizens and posted it on line and paid and supported the American diplomat Lawerence Foley’s assination in Amman, Jordan, Saddam failed to report or account for munitions of INTERNATIONALLY BANNED chemical weapons which by the way he not only had, he used on his own people the Kurds and at least 10 times against Iran in 1980s war with eachother, and on and on…. These are just a few reasons that Obama is absolutely NOT the right man to be president of this great nation founded for and under God.

The Powell endorsement and the words he used to give this endorsement to Obama have articulated the shortcomings of the McCain campaign in a manner that even the Obama Camp could not have done. Coming from a Republican of the stature of Colin Powell, could this endorsement prove to be the catalyst to help undecided voters make up their minds in favour of Senator Obama? Read my complete analysis at http://ambassadorseraj.blogspot.com/2008/10/powell-endorsement-will-it-seal-deal.html